Sunday, August 01, 2004
I don't know what scared me more....
The words of Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi or My Right's initial (and emotive) reaction. In his "violently-worded submission" relating to the Foreshore and Seabed legislation, Piripi said:
"Maori people will never accept this action of the Crown as legitimate and we will fight against it creating a festering sore in New Zealand society,"My Right immediately wanted ask Piripi whether this was a threat or a warning. And if it was a threat, follow up by asking "and how do you think you boys will get on in that civil war?".
"This country could be brought to its knees by internal conflict and perhaps civil war over the coming decades as a direct result of this bill."
Not a response My Right is proud of by any stretch, but one that I think is in danger of becoming more and more common. Brash's Orewa speech made it acceptable to robustly debate the 'Maori issue' with some freedom - but I don't think any punter on the pakeha side of the debate has ever been quite so inflammatory and irresponsible.
The fact that this person holds public office is even more disturbing. It would be nice to see other members of the Maori community haul this guy over the coals and tell him that this sort of inflammatory nonsense does nothing to progress an already heated debate. It merely turns more and more reasonable New Zealander's off having any sort of constructive dialogue.
So to Haami Piripi - thanks mate, a good stride backwards for us all.
